Orioles Rumors: O’Day, Jones, Britton, Valencia

Orioles righty Darren O’Day had been pitching well enough this season to be counted among Baltimore’s many trade chips, but the hamstring strain he suffered this week could alter that scenario. As MLB.com’s Britt Ghiroli writes, O’Day has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain, and while the injury won’t require surgery, there’s also no timetable for his return. With just over a month until the July 31 non-waiver deadline, that’s certainly not a promising outlook. Of course, given O’Day’s $8MM salary both this year and next, it’s also possible, if not likely, that he’d clear revocable waivers in August and could be marketed to other clubs that month. In 20 innings for the O’s this season, O’Day has a fairly pedestrian 3.60 ERA but an excellent 27-to-4 K/BB ratio.

Meanwhile, Zach Britton hasn’t exactly been doing much to bolster his trade value of late, blowing a pair of saves in the past week and bloating his ERA to an ugly 7.04. GM Dan Duquette, however, expressed some patience with the once-dominant closer and suggested that other clubs are likely doing the same (via Kubatko). “I think Zach needs to pitch a little bit,” said Duquette. “He didn’t have the benefit of the spring training period, so I think he needs to pitch a little bit for clubs to take a look at him and for him to get back to his previous high level.” I took a look at Britton’s trade candidacy last week, exploring the myriad reasons that his actual trade value may not line up with his name value.

The Sun’s Eduardo A. Encina was among those to speak with Britton following his most recent blown save, and the closer was blunt in expressing his frustration. “I don’t think there’s been a game yet where I’ve felt, ‘OK, that’s it from every pitch,’ so you’ve just got to find a way to get to that point,” Britton told reporters. The lefty spoke at length about the difficulty he’s had in consistently repeating his best delivery as he’s struggled in his return from a surgically repaired Achilles tendon.

Dan Connolly of BaltimoreBaseball.com writes that Danny Valencia is likely the one minor league pickup who’s played his way into trade chip status for the Orioles. Valencia swatted his eighth homer last night and is hitting .292/.358/.485 through 193 plate appearances in his second run with the Orioles. Valencia has been slightly tougher on lefties than on righties, but he’s hitting all pitchers quite well this season. Even if his track record against right-handers isn’t as strong as his 2018 output, though, Valencia has long been a thorn in the side of left-handers, hitting them at a .311/.370/.494 clip. As Connolly observes, there are numerous postseason contenders with deficiencies against left-handed pitching (most notably including the Nationals and Brewers). Meoli spoke with Valencia yesterday about his production against right-handers and his strong all-around season. He also spoke with Trey Mancini about Valencia’s positive influence in the clubhouse and work with younger players in 2018.

Comments

Machado would rake in AZ and just complete that lineup.AZ really only has Duplantier and Smith for top top prospects, both guys drafted since 2016 though. After that their system doesn’t look very good. They would have to give up both guys to get Machado and Britton and I still don’t know it’s enough.

Totally incorrect. He is no where close to a “really bad” shortstop. Look at his assists and putouts. He gets to balls almost every other shortstop can’t. And he’s got a cannon arm. I agree he’s better at 3rd, but he’s not close to really bad at SS. As for the Dbacks, I don’t think they have what the O’s want. Only Duplantier is a top 100 prospect and he’s in the 60’s. They’ll have to get creative.

Would like to see Jones be an Orioles lifer. Maybe somehow the FO can pull it’s collective head out of their rear end and figure out he is a guy like Ripken the fans love and want to see in the uniform. Can’t cost a ton to resign on a 3y deal. Why can’t they figure this out?

Ownership feels that transactions are far too complicated regardless of potential benefits, so the option most chosen is that to do nothing. BAL will just let Jones’ contract expire, and then offer him the QO.

Because he has pretty much lost his range defensively in CF and has been a prime contributor to the free-swinging “beer league” boom or bust offense that has ruined this team.. They have to move to an on-base focused offense that is more disciplined and productive.

Jones, the most respected player on the team can’t even get some direction from the powers that be. They don’t offer him an extension and they don’t ask him if he will waive which means they will just wing it as usual. Maybe the Brewers will take Valencia and give the Os back Davies. I’d ask for Hader back but I know that ain’t happening

Jones would be fine to resign. He won’t cost much. Other teams aren’t going to look at him as a CF at this point. He’d be a nice upgrade in left for a number of teams and I think he’d grade out pretty well defensively there. Hopefully the orioles realize that and let hays or Mullins play CF in the off chance we do resign him.

Maybe it’s just me, but I’d happily give up JBJ, Swihart, Mata and 1 of the 2 lefties in Pyner/Scott to boot for both Britton/Jones if the O’s would pay 10m of the combined salaries to keep boston in line from the extra penalties. JBJ is making 6.5m

Mata have watched several times last cpl years on Milb.com and doesn’t really excite me. sure he’s only 19, but i don’t see more than a possible back end starter there. JBJ gives baltimore another 2 and a half years of control and “hope” he can get back to where he was.

I wouldn’t part with Hembree. his stuff is just too good IMO and 1 day is going to be a decent setup guy.